Introduction
Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year or Spring Festival constitutes one of the leading celebrations in Chinese culture and is celebrated to a lesser or greater extent in other Asian nations. To reciprocate the favor, the festival represents the coming of spring and is associated with new beginning, prosperity, and development. Lunar New Year is normally associated with the 15-day celebration with the specific New Year’s eve dinner reception, rites and customs and of course numerous kinds of tasty foods and confections which are supposed to help people gain good fortune. So in this article, we get to take a look at some of the must-have CNY goodies that will enable you to ring in the Lunar New Year in proper style.
1. Nian Gao (Sweet Rice Cake)
Nian Gao in one of the must have Lucky New Year goodies. It is also known as sweet rice cake; it is a desert that has a great deal of symbolism. The cake is prepared using glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and sometimes nuts of different varieties. It is prepared during New Year celebrations and the name Nian Gao actually means “Year High” which is a symbolic expression to mean literally High year. Similarly, the consistency and sweetness of the cake are the signs of progress and happiness. Nian Gao is mostly prepared for the Chinese New Year or the eve of the New Year to symbolically represent prosperity and success. The Nian Gao is also used to be distributed to friends and families in order to convey good luck and prosperous year.
2. Tang Yuan which means Sweet Rice Dumplings
Tang Yuan is another delicacies for the Lunar New Year and it is also referred to as sweet rice dumplings. Known as Xiao Long Bao, these dumplings are made from glutinous rice flour and are stuffed with sweet ingredients like red bean paste or nuts and sesame or some savory meats like pork etc which symbolize family. Tang Yuan is round, with a meaning of being full and complete; the dumplings indicate the dough of family and friends. The most common method of serving is in sweet ginger soup, but you can also cook it fried or just dust it with powdered sugar. Eating Tang Yuan is also a tradition during the Lunar celebration as it is believed to overjoy or appease all sorts of spirits or any bad luck that enters the house.
3. Yin Yang Shrimp
Yin Yang Shrimp, or Black and White Shrimp is a yummy appetizer which gives a new taste to your Lunar New Year meal. It is made with fresh shrimp cooked in black and white sauce and coated in crispy batter even though it can hardly be defined as a soup. The areas painted black and white stand for yin and yang, respectively, thus denoting opposition within unity. It must be noted that this dish is thought to bring equal portions of luck and prosperity to those in celebration. Soo Yook Shrimp is usually consumed with vegetables and sauce such as yin yang sauce which crystals consequently improves the appearance of the meal.
4. Ju Jia Rou (Pork belly)
Ju Jia Rou means spiced pork belly in superior broth and it has been a popular and fatty dish of Chinese families during Lunar New Year celebration as the fatty pork symbolizes wealth. Our dish is prepared from delicious pork belly that is marinated with five spice powder, soy sauce, sugar, Shaoxing wine and slow cooked. The five-spice powder used in the marinade represents the five elements: Five elements of the earth, fire, water, wood, and metal as a representation of yin and yang in life. Ju Jia Rou is usually taken with a serving of vegetables and a delightful gravy to enhance the tastes, and convey fortune to the celebrators.
5. Pineapple Bun (Bo Lo Bao)
Bo Lo Bao or Pineapple bun is sweet and crispy pastry that is eaten during the celebration of Lunar New Year and is made with a crispy crust and soft, white bread. This pastry has an uncommon outer layer resembling the skin of pineapple hence the name. The bun itself is highly advisable to be accompanied with various stuffings amongst which the butter, red bean paste as well as char siu (Cantonese barbecued pork) is to be distinguished. The Pineapple Bun is originally from Chinese bakeries and is often claimed to be one of the people’s favorites. It is a tradition for Taikoo to eat Pineapple Bun in the lunar new year as people think it would sweeten the coming year.
6. Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes
Lunar New Year cannot be complete without mooncakes, and Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes are perhaps one of the most common types. These mooncakes consist of a smooth lotus seed paste filling and very thinly laminated pastry skin, and are considered symbolic of harmony and success. The lotus seed paste is especially used as filling and has a deep meaning of purity and beauty in the mooncake; the ‘quilting’ patterns on the pastry crust symbolise family reunion. Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes are best served to friends, relatives and dear once during the New Year to convey good wishes and prosperity.
Conclusion
The Lunar New Year is a time of joy, rich cultural practices, and an abundance of traditional CNY goodies that bring out the best in everyone. Beyond savoring these delightful treats, you’re also embracing the timeless values of unity, harmony, and gratitude deeply rooted in Asian traditions—all while indulging in the festive flavors that celebrate the promise of a prosperous new year.
So, as the Lunar New Year approaches, prepare your celebrations with an array of delicious traditional CNY goodies. Share these symbolic delights with your loved ones and create cherished memories filled with happiness, togetherness, and the rich culinary heritage of this special occasion.